23 Starbucks Innovations - Sad: Stock Down 60%, 600 Stores to Close (SUPER GALLERY)

Shelling out $5 for a customized coffee may have seemed ridiculous to past generations, but for those addicted to their daily Starbucks, it makes total sense.

Still on the down low is Starbucks’ latest attempt at innovation: they’re almost ready to launch a new banana protein drink geared at the health-conscious male demographic. Whereas Starbucks has typically been associated with women and fussier city business types, the new drink is geared at fitness frenzied men.

Unfortunately, not everyone understands the idea of luxury lattes, and if the protein smoothies don’t hit, Starbucks could be in trouble. Over the last two years, Starbucks hasn’t been growing. Competitors like McDonalds have been moving in with cheaper alternatives at the new McCafe, causing Starbucks profits to miss their targets. Accordingly, the shares are down more than 60%.

In this sad time for Starbucks lovers, we bring you the top 23 Starbucks Innovations.

Starbucks Gets Pricier, Fancier - Brewed to Order Premium Blend

Starbucks thinks you should spend more on your cuppa. In Seattle they are testing a 12 oz up of “fresh-pressed” coffee at $2.50 each and calling it a premium product. “The new Starbucks drink, made in… [More]

$1 Starbucks + Free Refill - Starbucks Fights to Keep up with McDonalds

Starbucks is known world-wide for having outrageously expensive drink prices, but all that could change now that competitors like McDonald’s are offering cheaper Joe, including specialty espresso drinks… [More]

Order A Starbucks From Your iPhone - QuickOrder

Using QuickPay, a swipe transaction system using semacode technology, it seems it is not to far in the future that you will be able to order a Starbucks coffee from your iPhone - without standing in line.… [More]

Boosted Caffeine - Starbucks Adds “Energy” To Drinks

There’s coffee, there’s espresso, and then there’s “energy” on the menu list of additives to get you powered up at Starbucks. They’ve added the option to enhance the caffeine in their already-stimulated… [More]

Corporate Funded Music - Starbucks to Launch Record Label With Paul McArtney

The Seattle based company, Starbucks, have decided to launch a record label called Starbucks Records. It’s not a coincidence as they have proven they can sell other’s music at their stores, and looking… [More]

Musicless Coffee - Starbucks Kills The Music, Drops CD Sales

Starbucks wants to give you more than just a buzz when they introduced music sales.  However, the buzz on CD sales was more like a irritating hum. The NY Times reports that Starbucks was selling just… [More]

Starbucks Card Mosaic Coasters - Upcycled Art by Flawed Frock (GALLERY)

Hundreds of millions of gift cards are given each year, and most end up in the trash after the money’s been emptied. Not sure what to do with your left over gift cards? If you racked up plastic gift cards,… [More]

Coffee for Your Garden - Starbucks Pushes Coffee for Your Plants

It’s no longer just your tastebuds that can enjoy the Starbucks experience; now your garden can take part in its enriching experience.  Starbucks developed “Grounds For Your Garden”, a program that reuses… [More]

Starbucks Debuts On TV - Can Holiday Ad Bring Back Customers? (VIDEO)

For the first time, Starbucks is launching a television commercial. The animated “Pass the Cheer” ads will air in an effort to counteract the just-released news that the coffee chain is suffering from… [More]

BMW Espresso Machine - Starbucks Sirena

A self-professed Starbucks addict, I couldn’t help but notice the shiny new Sirena espresso machines on display in stores this week. A barista noticed my intrigue and piped up with excitement, telling… [More]

Starbucks Targets Youth - Frapputeenos? (GALLERY)

Starbucks is doing all it can to appeal to the masses. In the last weeks we’ve seen the Date Frappucino debut in the Middle East in celebration of Ramadan, and now we’re seeing the coffee company market… [More]

Ramadan Frappucino - Starbucks Caters To Muslims (GALLERY)

Starbucks has specialized in culture-specific drinks in the past, like the red bean Frappucino in China, but now they’ve moved to the Muslim culture. To celebrate Ramadan this year, the coffee company… [More]

Making Eco-Awareness Fun - Starbucks Planet Green Game (GALLERY)

It’s like an eco-friendly Sims game! Starbucks has long been known to promote environmental awareness, and now they’ve launched a fun new interactive game. In collaborating with Global Green USA, they… [More]

China the Focus of Starbucks Growth

I’ll have a double-tall, non-fat Chinese tea, please. Coffee king Starbucks is going from Seattle to Shanghai and spreading caffeine jitters around the globe. “Starbucks has said it expects to see its… [More]

Starbucks unveils first film deal.  What happend to what they were good at?  Coffee

Starbucks is getting into film… what happened to coffee? [More]

Caffeinated Competition - Second Cup’s Cafe Delights Bars VS Starbucks Liquor (VIDEO)

Second Cup Coffee started up in Toronto in an effort to compete with the world’s favourite latte local - Starbucks Coffee. It’s been a few years, and they haven’t even come close to capturing as many fans,… [More]

Starbucking - Man To Visit Every Starbucks In The World (VIDEO)

If you thought you knew a major Starbucks lover, you’ll be shocked to know they’ve got nothing on “Winter”. The 35 year old computer programmer has made it his goal to visit every Starbucks in the WORLD.… [More]

Starbucks Introduces Hot Drink Machines

Just as you thought Starbucks has completely saturated the U.S. market with a “Starbucks on every corner”, the coffee giant is still not satisfied.  In order for Starbucks to penetrate markets where their… [More]

American Idol Starbucks Style

Starbucks in conjunction with Concord Music Group have formed a new record label, Hear Music. Both companies already have released recordings featuring Ray Charles’ “Genius Loves Company” and Sergio Mandez’… [More]

Starbucks To Give Away 500,000 FREE Cups of Coffee

As part of a marketing scheme to turn the Starbucks craze into an absolute frenzy, Starbucks is giving away FREE coffee on March 15 from 10 am to noon as part of their Second Annual Coffee Break. This… [More]

Starbucks - Coffee and Movies

Starbucks is looking for more involvement with the entertainment industry. Recently they promoted the movie “Akeelah and the Bee” and are in talks with the William Morris Agency to find more movie… [More]

Are tall non-fat frappacinos the new Big Mac?

Think there’s already a Starbucks on every corner? Just wait. The fast-growing chain plans to nearly triple in size and some see it growing even bigger, one day topping hamburger giant McDonald’s Corp.… [More]

Starbucks Gets Serious Over Breakfast

As no-frills breakfast kings like McDonald’s Corp. and Dunkin’ Donuts have gotten more serious about their coffee, Starbucks Corp. has gotten more serious about its breakfast. It started selling toasted… [More]